Contents

Understand

When going towards east to Iran, this is the last Turkish town you'll come across.

The electricity supply here is intermittent.

Get in

Get around

You can walk to most places in this fairly small city.

Landscape

See

Ishak Pasa Sarayi is a palace 5 km outside the city. This ancient fortress/castle/mosque is stunningly beautiful, and is a must see when in Dougbeyazit. Try to go on a dry, sunny day. The old town is nearby. Trek a little bit further up, and you can visit the tomb of Ahmedi Xani, the famous kurdish poet and philosopher and the ruins of the Urartian castle. The area is also famous for the rock formation assumed to be the remains of Noah's ark. You may also visit the meteor crated in the vicinity of the Iranian border.

Ishak Pasa Sarayi

Do

Climb Mount Ararat (5,137 metres/16,854 ft), on the border of Turkey and Iran, supposedly where Noah's Ark landed. Guides and vehicles are available in Dogubeyazit. The climb is long, but there is a fairly easy route from the south in late summer for climbers who are familiar with the use of axe and crampons. Snow covers the last 400 m (¼ mile) year-round. There are two possible campsites on the mountain, and the glacier begins around 4,800 m (15,750 ft). International climbers need a climbing permit that can be obtained through the Turkish Embassies or, the easier option is to let your guide's company do it. Leave about 2 month for the authorities to process your permit application. For information you need to submit with the permit application see:[5]. You also need a licensed guide to accompany you on the trek. People most often attempt to climb upp to the summit and return to Dogubayazit in 4 days. However, you may need more time to acclimatise, so it can be wise to add an extra day. * for Mt Ararat trek see, Dogubayazit, 147/c Ismail Besikci caddesi, [1]. Also, you may want to climb other mountains in the region, for example Mt Suphan as part of your acclimatisation. * Mt Suphan and Mt Ararat trek, [2].

Buy

Eat

Try to get a rare Abdigor Kofte. It is a fist size meatball on the pilaf but it difficult to find because not many people know how to cook it. This dish cannot be found anywhere else. It is a local delicacy that can be found only in Dogubayazit.

Hotel Grand Derya is run down and has intermittent problems with breakfast.

Hotel Urartu is reasonable with friendly staff.

Hotel Tahran is inexpensive with surprisingly clean but small bathrooms.

Hotel Erzurum has clean rooms with shared bathrooms.

Get out

Note that it can be difficult to leave after about 14:00 as most buses depart in the morning. There are two bus stops at opposite ends of town: one otogar for distant destinations and one for dolmuses to Van.
Times and prices for buses and minibuses to and from Dogubayazit, [4].